“What’s funny about it, man, you’ll never believe — I had to kick and fight and cuss and was pretty much told by the record companies that the stupidest thing I could do was put that on an album. You can’t believe what I went through to get it on [Startin’ Fires]. [Album producer] Scott Hendricks put a couple microphones in front of us at his farm . . . lit a campfire, and there were crickets. . . . We just played it one time and recorded it.”

“I was doing an interview with this guy and he said, ‘I heard you went No. 1.’ And I went, ‘What?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, we just got this today. You went No. 1 this week. And we kept the interview going, and I was fine. But then he went, ‘Hey man, you’re gonna cry aren’t ya?’ And then I was like a little girl!”

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles is launching a series of musical events that includes artists and organizations coming together to share music, lifestyle and philanthropy. The first three events will consist of acoustic performances with each artist donating their proceeds to a favorite charity. “I’m hoping Common Thread will be a multi-genre diverse bill under the common thread of activism and community organization,” Nettles says.

Jason Boland was sidelined a few months ago due to a vocal chord injury, an incident he explains in a brief Q&A with Chris Parton. He and his band will return to the road later this month and doesn’t think he’ll sound much different than before. “I think I’ll sound better,” he says, “because I’ve never had any singing training [until now]. I wasn’t a natural singer. I was a songwriter that ended up fronting a band.”

Do you feel like part of what you do in Riders in the Sky is to further educate or remind people about the Western roots of music? Do you see younger fans who have responded to your role in Toy Story 2?

Definitely! My greatest joy (well, the two Grammys were great, too) is seeing kids get interested in cowboys, the west, and western music. They may outgrow it after a while, but there will be a few, like me, who remember the great western songs from childhood and want to preserve them.

31 Comments

Why’s Brad Paisley talking about the next CD as his fourth normal record? He already has five regular albums under his belt.

Jessica
November 7, 2008 at 12:59 pm

I remember ya’ll mentioning earlier about Kevin Costner going to be on the Opry this weekend. Jamey Johnson was originally on the lineup as we were going to get tickets because of him. Then when I went to get them, I see Kevin’s name splashed up there. Yet another fallen star trying to make it into the country world pushing away true country singer/musicians.

@CMW – It’s clear he only regards albums that went No. 1 as “normal,” thus the first two (according to Wikipedia) don’t count. Actually, I don’t know, but that’s a good point and one I didn’t catch myself.

@Jessica – I’ve been wondering if Jamey Johnson even plays live. Ok, I know he does, but it seems like a rare occurrence. I’ve searched several times for a tour schedule to no avail.

Why is it idiotic for Hank III to petition the Grand Old Opry to reinstate Hank Williams?

idlewildsouth
November 7, 2008 at 4:45 pm

I was lucky enough to catch Jamey Johnson with Randy Houser here in Nashville a couple of weeks ago, and the Bluebird Cafe back in July, but beyond that I dont know of any shows hes done. I suppose since currently his writing is his breadwinner, he spends more time working on that than touring.

J.R. Journey
November 7, 2008 at 5:15 pm

I really dug the Lee Ann Womack interview with No Depression. Thanks for posting!

Here are some dates for Jamey – I’ll stick them on the forum as well. The thing that sucks is that his website folks don’t keep it up to date. However, with a little bit of research, you can find some dates. He’s been doing quite a few radio promo stuff.

As far as the Hank III trying to get Hank Sr reinstated, something interesting is that Hank Jr hasn’t done anything really. He hasn’t said a word and you would think he would…then again things are strained between III and Jr. according to video interviews and such. Personally I do believe that Hank Sr should be reinstated since they are indeed using his image on just about anything on their products, videos, and more. Yeah the man is dead, but heck, they should honor him. Country Music Hall of Fame honors those that have passed away with late inductions to the Hall (ie Conway Twitty).

m.c.
November 7, 2008 at 6:03 pm

Jessica–Hank Jr. wore a “Reinstate Hank” t-shirt at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum the weekend that the museum’s “Family Tradition” exhibit opened. He spoke about it and basically said, “Hell yea, he should be.”

He was photographed in the t-shirt that afternoon during the solo performance and interview he did in the museum’s Ford Theater that afternoon. Whenever someone pointed a camera, he pulled open the unbuttoned denim shirt over the T so that the message on the t-shirt would be seen clearly.

He may have done other things, too, I’m not sure. But at least that day he was doing something.

@Ben – Because as far as I understand it, a person has to be alive to be considered a member. Anyone who was a member during his lifetime, but has since passed away is now a former member. The same goes for anyone who was kicked out or left on his own accord.

J.R. Journey
November 7, 2008 at 6:32 pm

How many members have actually been kicked out of the Opry? And how many just left ‘on their own accord’?

I don’t know if there are any available stats to say how many people have been forced out or left on their own. To an extent, DeFord Bailey was forced out, while guys like Willie Nelson and Eddy Arnold left the Opry.

Johnny Cash was asked to not return after kicking out the foot lights. Marty Robbins was fired as well, but that only lasted five days.

Rick
November 7, 2008 at 6:56 pm

So now its become Jennifer “New Age” Nettles eh? Yoga and environmentalism as guiding principles huh. If Don Henley is available the two would make a good match and could co-habitate at Walden Pond in the name of world peace….(sort of the countrified version of John and Yoko)

I just can’t see the vaudeville antics of “Riders In The Sky” inspiring anyone to pursue an interest in cowboy music. Now compelling artists like Tom Russell and Dave Stamey are another matter entirely…

I think Chet Flippo may be onto something. If the airhead country establishment were to spend $ 600 million on advertising and promotion, and had the mainstream media printing only positive things about Top 40 country artists, who knows what might happen. On the other hand a plan to charge outrageous CD and download prices only to “the rich” so the music can be redistributed free to “the poor” might not work out in the long run…..

A plug is always welcome. Looking forward to the end of the countdown and the CMAs next week. Thanks, Brody.

J.R. Journey
November 8, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Willie Nelson and Eddy Arnold left the Opry? Why?

And why was DeFord Bailey forced out? Wikipedia says it was because of a licensing conflict with BMI-ASCAP that prevented him from playing his best known tunes on the radio? How can this happen to a performer? He lost the rights to perform his own songs? I am confused …

The Bailes Brothers were fired from the Opry in 1946. The story goes that one of them had a girlfriend who killed herself over him (or attempted to, depending on who you believe), and the Opry didn’t want to be associated with the incident.

JR Journey, it’s claimed that Eddy Arnold left the Opry over money disputes, which isn’t surprising. The Opry required performers to appear 26 Saturdays (the most profitable night of the week) a year and Arnold was already a huge star when he left in 1948 to pursue bigger things.

Willie left in 1969 and moved back to Texas after a fire burned his Nashville house down, taking hundreds of unpublished songs in the process.

DeFord Bailey was caught between ASCAP and BMI. ASCAP raised their rates, broadcasters formed BMI and WSM told its artists to only perform songs licensed by BMI. Bailey figured people wanted to hear his hits and not new songs, so we was pretty much forced out in 1941.

@J.R. Journey – In a way, yes, Deford lost the right to play his own songs, mainly because he did traditional material that was published by ASCAP and there was a boycott of ASCAP material on the radio (there is a lot more to it than that, but I’m oversimplifying for a comment box). Some sources say Bailey refused to learn new songs that would be covered by BMI and thus available to be played on the radio. (Other sources say he was let go due to his race)

As to your other question about others that have been fired from the Opry, I don’t have the numbers handy, but in 1973 Skeeter Davis was suspended from the Opry for 15 months (not technically a “firing,” but…). In 1964 there was a mass firing, but I don’t have any of the names handy (M.C. might be able to throw in here), but I believe they were all reinstated in time.

@Brady: That’s where I found out about it! I went looking for more info and it seems there are a lot of conflicting stories out there.

Typically when an artist breaks with the Opry or vice versa it’s over business issues — money, performing schedules, etc. As I’ve said many times in this space, Opry membership is primarily an ongoing performance contract, not just an honor to be bestowed. That’s why it’s pointless to “reinstate” someone who has passed away.

@Jim C. – Considering some of the artists that she’s recorded songs with, or who have recorded her songs, I think that she’s got enough of a connection that it’s not unreasonable to mention her on a country music blog every now and then.